Lawmakers hear broad support for expanding certified pre-apprenticeship programs, fiscal concerns raised

Representative Kilton Webb, sponsor of LD 1117, told the Labor Committee that certified pre-apprenticeship programs provide hands-on training and a pathway into registered apprenticeships, and urged lawmakers to approve the bill to address persistent shortages in the trades. Webb described the pre-apprenticeship-to-apprenticeship pathway as a mix of on-the-job training and classroom instruction that ‘‘creates a beautiful feedback loop.’’

The Maine Department of Labor outlined the current framework for certified pre-apprenticeship programs and said the department neither supports nor opposes LD 1117 while offering technical recommendations. Kim Moore, director of the Bureau of Employment Services, told the committee that Maine codified certified pre-apprenticeship programming in 2023 and adopted new rules requiring programs to partner with registered apprenticeship sponsors, provide industry-aligned training and safety education, recruit underrepresented groups, and follow U.S. Department of Labor standards. Moore said 56 programs are operating statewide across healthcare,…